Siding and shingling gage.



G. KEYES.

SIDING ANDSHINGLING GAGE.

APPLICATION FILED 11211.10, 1911.

Patented July 9, 1912.

UNTTE STATES I PATENT @FFTQE.

GEORGE KEYES, OF IDAHO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

SIDING AND SHINGLING GAGE.

Application filed April 10, 1911.

acters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to a siding and shingling gage, being a device tofacilitate the laying of shingles, and the applying of siding oroverlapping weather boards, constituting the sheeting of buildings.

Qne object of my improved device is to enable the user to apply eithershingles or siding without the use of a chalk line, as is usuallyrequired in this class of work. Where my improved device is employed, itis only necessary to get a layer of shingles in a lengthwise direction,or a length of siding across the building for starting purposes, afterwhich the work may be completed by the employment of my improved device,and without the aid of a chalk line. Furthermore, it makes itpracticable for one person only to apply siding to a building. Theboards employed for this pur pose are usually of considerable length,making it necessary under ordinary circumstances, that two personsshould handle each board, one taking hold of each end. By the use of myimprovement, two of the gages being employed, both ends of the board maybe supported, and the person in charge then has nothing to do but nailthe board in place.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed todescribe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawing, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing: Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through thesheeting of a building, showing my improved device in place. Fig. 2 is asimilar View, showing the parts in a slightly difierent position. Fig. 3is a top View of the same, or a view looking in the direction ofthearrow 3, Fig. 2.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1912.

Serial No. 620,166.

Let the numeral 5 designate the body member of my improved device, thesame consisting of a forwardly located block 6, a rearwardly extendingshank 7, and an upwardly projecting rear extremity 8, to which a knob 9is employed, constituting a handle. .To the bottom of the block 6 issecured a metal plate 10, by means of fastening screws 12, the saidplate being countersunk in the block in order to make the bottom of thelatter perfectly smooth.

The block 6 is provided with an opening through which is passed a rod 13which is graduated to gage the width of the space between the loweredges of the two parts 14 of which the sheeting is composed. This rod 18is adjustable in the block 6, and secured in any desired position bymeans of a set screw 15. To the forward extremity of the rod 13, ispivotally connected, by means of a screw 16, and an angle bracket 17,having a shoulder 18, adapted to engage the lower edge of a board 14-,while a forwardly projecting member 19 extends above the lower edge ofthe board, being in engagement with the outer section thereof. Thefunction of this angle bracket is to support the board in place duringthe nailing opera tion. If the board is of any considerable length, asis usually the case, two of my improved gages should be used, one beinglocated near each extremity of the board.

In order to lock the device securely in place during the performance ofits function, I employ a dog 20 pivotally mounted on the block 6 andprovided with a segmental gear 21, meshing with a similar gear 22,formed on a manipulating arm 23. The dog 20 is so located that whenpressure is applied to the arm 23 in an inward or downward direction,the sharp point A of the dog is forced into the board 1& near the loweredge thereof. The plate 10 is inserted between'the upper part of thelower board and the lower part of the overlapping board, and when thedog is applied to the board, the lower part of the latter is clampedbetween the plate 10 and the said dog.

The rear upwardly projecting part 8 of the device is provided with anopening 24, through which the rod 13 may be passed, when it is desiredto collapse the device, or reduce it to small compass for transportingpurposes or to enable it to be placed within the pocket or tool chest ofthe owner.

As illustrated in the drawing, the knob 19 is secured to the part 8 bymeans ofa screw 25, or other suitable fastening device. The specialmanner of constructing the handle member of the device, however, may bevaried at Will.

As illustrated in the drawing, the forward extremity of the rod 13 isprovided with a lug 26 and a curved bearing part 27 extend 1 ing atright angles to the lug, and forming a seat for the ears or lugs 28which straddle the lug 26, the fastening screw 16 being passed throughthe registering openings formed in the connected parts. a

In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2, where the distance between thelower edges of the upper and lower boards, is con siderably less thanthat illustrated in Fig. 1, the angle bracket 17 assumes a somewhatdifierent position, whereby its shoulder 18 forms a different angle fromthe lower edge of the board. It is evident that the lower edge of theboard will only engage the shoulder 18 throughout the entire length ofthe latter, when the said bracket is in one. position. For instance, ifthe boards be separated farther than shown in Fig. 1, that is to say, ifthe exposed surface between the block 6 and the shoulder 18 is greaterthan in Fig. 1, it is evident that the angle bracket would occupy aposition the reverse of that shown in Fig. 2; that is to say, in whichthe lower edge of the board would engage the inner extremity of theshoulder 18 instead of the outer extremity thereof. Hence, by reason ofthe pivotal connection of the said bracket with the rod, it is evidentthat this. bracket may be adjusted to all circumstances in work of thischaracter.

While it is assumed in the drawing that the parts 14: are membersconstituting thesiding or sheeting of a building, it is evident that myimproved device may be employed to equal advantage in shingling roofs orapplying sheeting or boards of any character to surfaces, where the saidboards overlap each other in the manner of either siding or shingles.

From the foregoing description the use of my improved device will bereadily un; derstood. Assuming that the user is to apply sheeting to abuilding, the same being in the form of siding or boards in which theupper parts of each lower length are overlapped by the lower parts ofthe adjacent upper length, he will first determine the surface to beexposed to the weather and he will regulate the block 6 on the rod 13accordingly. For instance in Fig. 1, the exposure of the board 14between the block 6 and the angle bracket is shown to be approximatelyfour and one-half inches. This having been determined upon, two lengthsof these boards should first be laid, one beingthe lowermost and theother the one immediately above. This leaves the loweredgeofthe lastnamed length exposed to form a guide 'for the continuation of the work.Two of my improved devices may then be placed in position, the plate 12of each de vice being inserted between the overlapping portions of thetwo boards already in place, the two gages being so located that theyare near the opposite ends of the board 14 to be applied immediatelyabove the overlapping or uppermost length of siding already in position.The dogs 20 are then caused to engage the lower portion of the uppermostlength (see Figs. 1 and 2). This is done by pressing inwardly upon thearm 23 of the segmental gear 22, the meshing relation of the two gearscausing the upper extremity of the dog to bite into the lower portion ofthe uppermost board already in position. This operation secures thegages in place, whereby the two angle brackets 17 are supported theproper distance above the lower edge of the latter, resting upon theshoulders 18 of these angle brackets. The board is then nailed in placeand the work continued.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: I

1. A siding or shingling gage,comprising a handle member provided with aforwardly located apertured block, a supporting bracket, a rod to theforward extremity of which the bracket is connected, the said rodpassing through the aperture in the block, means applied to the blockfor securing the rod in the desired posit-ion of adjustment, a dog forfastening the device in place, and the gear cooperating wit-h the dogfor operating the latter, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a handle member whoseforward extremity is provided with an opening, a set screw intersectingthe said opening, a rod engaging said opening and adapted to be held inplace by the set screw, the extremity of the rod carrying an anglebracket pivotally connected therewith, and means mounted on the handlemember for securing the device in place, substantially as described.

3. A siding and shingling gage, comprising a handle member having aforwardly located block, a graduated rod, the block having an openingthrough which the rod passes, a set screw for lockingthe rod in thedesired position of adjustment, a supporting bracket pivotally connectedwith the forward extremity of the rod, and segmental gears mounted onthe block, one of the said gears being equipped with a dog, and theother with a manipulating arm, for the purpose set forth.

4:. A siding and shingling gage, comprising a handle member, a rodsecured thereto and projecting forwardly therefrom, and

means applied to the handle member for securing the device in place, theforward portion of the rod being equipped with a pivoted angle-shapedsupporting bracket, sub stantially as described.

5. A gage of the class described, comprising a handle member having anupwardly projecting forward portion provided with an opening, agraduated rod slidable in the said opening, a set screw for securing therod in place, a plate secured to the said handle member and projectingupwardly therefrom, and means located upon the upwardly projectingforward portion adapted to engage the outer side of the siding orroofing and cooperating with the said plate for securing the device inposition, the forward extremity of the rod being equipped with asupporting bracket, substantially as described.

6. A gage of the class described, comprising a handle member, a rodlongitudinally adjustable on said handle member, an angleshapedsupporting bracket pivoted to the forward extremity of the rod, andmeans applied to the handle member for securing the device in place,substantially as de scribed.

7. A device of the class described, com prising a handle member, a rodlongitudinally adjustable thereon, a plate projecting forwardly from thebottom and forward extremity of the handle member, and adapted to engagethe inner side of the siding or roofing, a dog mounted on the handlemember and cooperating with the said plate for securing the device inplace, the dog being adapted to engage the outer side of the siding orroofing, means for operating the said dog to cause the latter to tightlyengage the siding or roofing, and a supporting bracket applied to theforward extremity of the rod, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE KEYES.

Witnesses OTTO E. HODDIOK, F. E. BOWEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

